Preferences Initiative Wins Battle

RALEIGH — On June 11, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in favor of the petition language for the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, a ballot initiative that would prevent the state from using racial preferences in public university admissions or state employment or contracting. The ruling overturns a lower-court ruling that invalidated the petition drive on the basis of the petition language. Two groups had argued that the language was deceptive because it did not state that by ending racial preferences, the initiative would end affirmative action. Supporters of the initiative don’t agree and prevailed in court, clearing the way for another petition drive for a 2006 referendum.